Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year, listed here as the 2011 release, is a long-aged Kentucky bourbon from the Van Winkle family. The format is 750mL.
About This Bourbon
The 20 Year carries a 90.4-proof bottling strength. The producer’s description turns towards coffee, oiled leather, smoke and cigar-box character, with a full-bodied feel. That is the house profile for the expression, not a tasting of this particular bottle.
Tasting Profile
- Character: Oiled leather, coffee, smoke and cigar-box notes form the house description of the 20 Year. It is full-bodied, with a persistent finish.
Serving & Food
Serve neat in a modest glass after dinner. A small piece of dark chocolate can sit beside its coffee note without adding sweetness to the whiskey itself.
How to Enjoy
Take time with a single pour rather than diluting it immediately. An opened bottle should be kept capped and standing upright.
Product Details
Brand: Pappy Van Winkle
Expression: Family Reserve 20 Year
Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Release year: 2011
Age: 20 years
Proof: 90.4
ABV: 45.2%
Volume: 750mL
About the Distillery
Family Reserve 20 Year was the first label to bear the Pappy Van Winkle name, following Julian Van Winkle III’s decision to rename the older Old Rip products. The family’s earlier distilling roots lay at Stitzel-Weller, but that does not establish the source of the whiskey in a specific later release. The Van Winkles’ partnership with Buffalo Trace began in the early years of this century. Bourbon for the family line continues under that production arrangement.